All Times Eastern.
Wednesday, Oct. 12
Designated Survivor: “The Enemy”
ABC, 10pm
When the truth behind the Capitol bombing is revealed, President Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) faces both the prospect of war and brewing domestic concerns, tapping Emily (Italia Ricci) to monitor the home front. Alex (Natascha McElhone) gets more than she bargained for when she asks Hookstraten (Virginia Madsen) for help.
College Football: Appalachian State at Louisiana-Lafayette
ESPN2, 8pm Live
A Wednesday night Sun Belt Conference game on ESPN2 has the Appalachian State Mountaineers on the road to face the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns.
Blindspot: “Condone Untidiest Thefts”
NBC, 8pm
After a prominent politician is almost killed during a rally, Weller (Sullivan Stapleton) and the team must work with U.S. Marshal Allie Knight (guest star Trieste Kelly Dunn) to take down a mob leader.
NHL Hockey
NBCSN, beginning at 8pm Live
Opening night of the NHL regular season on NBCSN has the St. Louis Blues at the Chicago Blackhawks, followed by the L.A. Kings at the 2016 Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks.
Nature: “Super Hummingbirds”
PBS, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Enter the fast-paced world of hummingbirds with help from high-speed cameras and breakthrough science. For the first time, see hummingbirds mate, fight and raise families. They are great athletes yet tender moms that are up for any challenge!
Speechless: “I-N-S—INSPIRATIONS”
ABC, 8:30pm
Things go haywire when JJ (Micah Fowler) and Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) realize that strangers find them inspirational and offer them freebies. Meanwhile, Dylan (Kyla Kenedy) and Ray (Mason Cook) try to convince Maya (Minnie Driver) to take them to play paintball, even though the place isn’t accessible.
Modern Family: “Weathering Heights”
ABC, 9pm
Castle’s Nathan Fillion makes his much-anticipated appearance as Phil’s idol, TV weatherman Rainer Shine. Invited to appear on camera for a real-estate news segment, Phil (Ty Burrell) finally gets to meet his hero, but the big moment’s derailed when Shine takes a shine to Haley (Sarah Hyland). Meanwhile Jay (Ed O’Neill) offers input into Manny’s (Rico Rodriguez) college application, and Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) takes action when she grows weary of her dads’ houseguest, Dwight (Person of Interest’s Winston Duke).
Criminal Minds: “Taboo”
CBS, 9pm
Paget Brewster’s agent Emily Prentiss returns full-time to the BAU (replacing Thomas Gibson’s Aaron “Hotch” Hotchner). But don’t get your party hats out just yet. They still have to locate, and hopefully save, three kidnapped women.
Empire: “Cupid Kills”
FOX, 9pm
Things heat up between Cookie and Angelo (guest star Taye Diggs), so Lucious prepares to take him on. Meanwhile, Hakeem starts falling for Nessa, even though she might be into a different Lyon.
NOVA: “Super Tunnel”
PBS, 9pm
Follow an army of engineers and designers as they tackle the complex challenge of building Crossrail, a massive new subterranean railway deep beneath the streets of London.
black-ish: “Who’s Afraid of the Big Black Man?”
ABC, 9:30pm
A situation at work leaves Dre (Anthony Anderson) pondering how black people are perceived now versus when he grew up, so he joins the Homeowners’ Association, hoping to be more open-minded about his community. Meanwhile, Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) tries to spend more time with the kids before the new baby comes.
The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands
AXS TV, 10pm Live
A tribute to The Who is performed by The Who Generation of Orange, Calif.
Code Black: “Corporeal Form”
CBS, 10pm
In the new episode “Corporeal Form,” Willis (Rob Lowe) defies orders when he helps Mario (Benjamin Hollingsworth) and Heather (Jillian Murray) perform a radical procedure on a maintenance worker stuck under a boiler that exploded.
The Exorcist File: Haunted Boy
Destination America, 10pm
This is a chronicle of the 1949 exorcism of a 13-year-old boy that inspired the classic chiller The Exorcist.
Chicago P.D.: “Big Friends Big Enemies”
NBC, 10pm
When a car plows through a crowd of concertgoers and gunfire erupts, Lindsay (Sophia Bush) and Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) are on the scene. Unsure of the motive and concerned a terrorist group may be responsible, Voight (Jason Beghe) orders in Homeland Security, customs and the F.B.I. to assist.
Thursday, Oct. 13
Mascots
Netflix
Also premiering in select theaters this month, Christopher Guest’s (Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show) latest mockumentary takes place in the ultra-competitive world of sports mascots competing for the most prestigious award in their field, the Gold Fluffy. Many of Guest’s regular troupe of actors star, including Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Fred Willard and Ed Begley Jr.
Grey’s Anatomy: “Falling Slowly”
ABC, 8pm
Alex (Justin Chambers) tries to do the right thing but still can’t catch a break. New parents Jackson (Jesse Williams) and April (Sarah Drew) adjust to their “new normal.” Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) try to sort out their relationships.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
The CW, 8pm
Season Premiere!
At the end of Season 1, the team semi‑accidentally blew up the Vanishing Point and the Time Masters, vanquished Vandal Savage and avenged Rip’s family. Executive producer Phil Klemmer notes, “The irony [is] that now there’s nobody left to police the timeline, and our ragtag bunch of time travelers who sort of signed up for this one‑off, saving the world, now are left holding the bag,” and as there are no Time Masters, lots of criminals have been unleashed across history.
Superstore: “Spokesman Scandal”
NBC, 8pm
When Cloud 9’s spokesman is accused of a heinous crime, Glenn (Mark McKinney) worries that he doesn’t know enough about his employees, and Dina (Lauren Ash) exploits his concerns by carrying out storewide drug testing.
NHL Hockey: Washington at Pittsburgh
NBCSN, 8pm Live
The 2016 Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins raise their fourth banner to the rafters of the Consol Energy Center before their regular-season opener vs. the Eastern Conference rival Washington Capitals.
NFL Football: Denver at San Diego
CBS & NFL Network, 8:25pm Live
AFC West foes face off tonight in San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium as the Super Bowl 50 champion Denver Broncos take on the Chargers on Thursday Night Football.
The Good Place: “What We Owe to Each Other”
NBC, 8:30pm
Eleanor (Kristen Bell) is enlisted to help Michael (Ted Danson) with an important task that could determine her fate in the Good Place.
Notorious: “Tell Me a Secret”
ABC, 9pm
Julia (Piper Perabo) learns about a college football player allegedly murdered by a young man who was accused on an anonymous message app. Jake (Daniel Sunjata) takes the case when he learns the suspect is the son of a longtime friend. Meanwhile, Levi (Raymond De Ocampo) is troubled by revelations from Oscar’s (Kevin Zegers) jailhouse interview.
Supernatural
The CW, 9pm
Season Premiere!
Season 11 concluded with the shocking return of Mary Winchester. In the new season, rocker/actor Rick Springfield will be making a multi-episode appearance, and Mark Pedowitz, the president of the CW, jokes, “Am I allowed to tell anybody that Lucifer jumps into his body?”
Chicago Med: “Brother’s Keeper”
NBC, 9pm
Several patients are discovered to have the same rare infection, prompting the hospital to bring in Dr. Charles’ (Oliver Platt) daughter Robyn (guest star Mekia Cox), an epidemiologist, to find the common link.
How to Get Away With Murder: “Don’t Tell Annalise”
ABC, 10pm
The Philadelphia Bar Association’s disciplinary board discovers damaging information about Annalise (Viola Davis), leaving a young client’s fate in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Frank (Charlie Weber) commits a shocking act, forcing someone close to him to deal with the fallout.
The Blacklist: “Gaia”
NBC, 10pm
As Red (James Spader) sets Liz (Megan Boone) and the task force on the trail of an eco-terrorist with a mysterious connection to Alexander Kirk, Tom (Ryan Eggold) takes matters into his own hands.
Dream On
PBS, 10pm
Political comedian John Fugelsang retraces the journey of Alexis de Tocqueville, who popularized the idea of the American dream in 1831, to find out whether that American dream is still alive today.
Falling Water
USA Network, 10pm
New Series!
In this mind-bending drama series from executive producers Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead), Blake Masters (Brotherhood) and the late Henry Bromell (Homeland), three unrelated people — Tess (Lizzie Brocheré), Burton (David Ajala) and Taka (Will Yun Lee) — slowly discover that they are dreaming separate parts of a single common dream. As they piece together their visions, they discover that their fates — and the fate of the entire world — may depend on their shared dream.
Those Who Can’t: “Foreskin in the Game”
truTV, 10:30pm
Shoemaker (Ben Roy) seeks emergency medical help for a very personal problem with a reverse circumcision, and Abbey (Maria Thayer) thinks she’s his best chance for fixing it. Fairbell (Andrew Orvedahl) takes on a role assisting Cattie, Smoot’s new principal; and Loren (Adam Cayton-Holland) is feeling pretty little left out.
Friday, Oct. 14
Goliath
Amazon
New Series!
Executive produced by David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal, Boston Legal), this series follows down-and-out lawyer Billy McBride (Billy Bob Thornton) as he seeks redemption. His one shot depends on getting justice in a legal system where truth has become a commodity, and the scales of justice have never been more heavily weighed toward the rich and powerful.
MacGyver: “Wire Cutter”
CBS, 8pm
In the new episode “Wire Cutter,” MacGyver (Lucas Till) and Jack (George Eads) partner with a Russian bomb programmer and his estranged handler to shut down a Soviet-era warhead in Moscow.
Hawaii Five-0: “Hū A’e Ke Ahi Lanakila A Kamaile (The Fire of Kamile Rises in Triumph)”
CBS, 9pm
In this new episode, Five-0 must find McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) and Alicia (guest star Claire Forlani) when they are kidnapped by the serial killer they’ve been hunting. Former NFL player Otis Wilson guest-stars as himself.
Gold Rush
Discovery Channel, 9pm
Season Premiere!
Discovery’s No. 1-rated show returns for its seventh season with a two-hour premiere tonight. Parker Schnabel, Todd Hoffman and Tony Beets are back, looking to find more gold than ever before.
Great Performances: “Grammy Salute to Music Legends”
PBS, 9pm
An all-star concert salutes the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement, Trustee and Music Educator award winners. Honorees include Ruth Brown, Celia Cruz, Herbie Hancock, Jefferson Airplane, Linda Ronstadt, John Cage, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Z Nation: “Little Red and the Wolfz”
Syfy, 9pm
10K, already injured and alone, is stalked by a pack of wolves.
Blue Bloods: “Mob Rules”
CBS, 10pm
In the new episode “Mob Rules,” Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) and Frank (Tom Selleck) want justice for Lt. Gormley (Robert Clohessy) after he is beaten by a mob outside his home. They enlist the aid of Detective Anthony Abetemarco (guest star Steve Schirripa), who has a personal connection to the neighborhood where the attack occurred.
Suspicion
Investigation Discovery, 10pm
Season Premiere!
From stalkers to criminal coverups and killers on the loose, the stories in Season 2 of Suspicion start building suspense from the moment something feels amiss. Emotional first-person interviews detail the endless twists and turns that come with following a dangerous hunch, leaving viewers anxious to learn who the culprit is until the very end.
Wolf Creek
Pop, 10pm
New Series!
Inspired by the cult horror film, this six-part event sees John Jarratt reprising his film role as murdering psychopath Mick Taylor, who wreaks havoc in the Australian Outback. This time, though, things are different, as a young American college student (Lucy Fry) survives Mick’s massacre of her family and sets out to hunt down the killer and avenge her loved ones.
Van Helsing: “Fear Her”
Syfy, 10pm
Vanessa, now in the clutches of Julius and his vampire brood, is forced to demonstrate her powers against someone from her past. Meanwhile, the refugees discover a serial killer among the other residents, and plot to wrestle control from Axel. In the aftermath, Mohamad is banished from the hospital.
Saturday, Oct. 15
College Football: Stanford at Notre Dame
NBC, 7:30pm Live
The Stanford Cardinal head to famed Notre Dame Stadium for a primetime clash with the Fighting Irish on NBC.
Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four
Investigation Discovery, 8pm
This award-winning film documents the struggle for exoneration of four Latina lesbians who were wrongfully convicted of rape against two young girls.
Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel’le
Lifetime, 8pm
Original Film!
Celebrated hip-hop artist Michel’le Toussaint — better known by her first name only — narrates this new biopic, which details her tumultuous life. Formerly tied to rap star Dr. Dre, with whom she has a son, and divorced from Death Row Records cofounder Suge Knight, Michel’le (played by Rhyon Nicole Brown, Lincoln Heights) triumphed over horrific abuse and adversity for the sake of herself and her kids. Newcomer Curtis Hamilton costars as Dr. Dre and R. Marcos Taylor reprises his Straight Outta Compton role as Knight.
Major League Baseball: National League Championship Series
FOX or FS1, Time TBA Live
FOX and FS1 split coverage of the best-of-seven-game National League Championship Series beginning with Game 1 tonight.
Pumpkin Pie Wars
Hallmark Channel, 9pm
Original Film!
Two warring grandmas have feuded for years at the annual pumpkin pie bake-off at the Chester County Harvest Festival. This year, the torch is being passed to their adult grandkids, who unexpectedly fall in love with each other. They embark on a secret romance and try to mend the rift between their families.
Stake Land 2
Syfy, 9pm
Original Film!
Nick Damici and Connor Paolo star in this sequel, in which vampires have evolved, and Mister must save a young woman from an evil brotherhood.
Versailles: “The Road”
Ovation, 10pm
Louis is troubled by Philippe’s rumored expertise on the battlefield, while Louise de Vallière is outshined in the court by the Madame de Montespan.
